DANNY SUTTON
MERCURY
JULY 03, 2015 12:01AM
Experts say mental illness needs to be seen in the same light as any other recoverable condition or injury.
AS a society with an increasing understanding and awareness of mental health issues, it is time to start treating it like any other element of our health – one that is manageable and able to be recovered from for anyone directly or indirectly affected by it.
In a bid to improve our levels of understanding and service delivery, one of Tasmania’s largest specialist mental health organisations, Richmond Fellowship Tasmania, recently hosted a visit by one of the UK’s leading experts on mental health service design, Rachel Perkins. Dr Perkins conducted a workshop attended by 80 people from across the state.
Dr Perkins has written and spoken widely about recovery and social inclusion for people with mental health conditions and was able to share some of the challenges and successes she has observed in the UK.
It takes great courage for people to be open about their mental health. And it is rare to find someone who can bring insights from both perspectives.
Dr Perkins’ experience as a clinical psychologist and adviser to the British Government and recipient of mental health services provided us with a strategic and personal viewpoint of a new way of thinking about mental health.
In the UK, there has been a move away from seeing mental health as a clinical problem of diagnosis and treatment to a social and personal challenge in ”recovering a life” not ”recovering from an illness”.
This change in approach has provided many people with the tools to rebuild their lives and become experts in their own self-care.
It takes great courage for people to be open about their mental health.
The move from a therapeutic to an educational approach has been pioneered through the development of Recovery Colleges in South West London and Nottingham.
This educational approach is designed to:
HELP people recognise and make use of their talents and resources.
ASSIST people in exploring their possibilities and developing their skills.
SUPPORT people in achieving their goals and ambitions.
The Recovery Colleges are co-produced in partnerships providing a range of courses, seminars and workshops to cater for people with diverse needs and preferences.
Staff become coaches who help people find their own solutions and students choose their own courses, work out ways of making sense (and finding meaning) in what has happened. They become experts in managing their own lives. There is now a considerable body of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of supported self-management education in all types of health conditions.
The Recovery Colleges are not a substitute for mainstream colleges or for traditional assessment and treatment. Rather they complement these services by helping people to understand their problems and learn how to manage them better in order to pursue their own goals and dreams.
Some courses also focus on the challenges faced by people who provide care and support for family members and friends with mental health conditions. The skills and confidence that people gain in these courses assist in seeking outside opportunities and employment. Those who attended the courses also felt more hopeful for the future and 70 per cent went on to become mainstream students, gained employment or became a volunteer.
The move towards addressing the needs of the “whole person” is essential in building a community that accepts diversity and makes no distinction between supporting people with their mental health issues in the same way that we do people with a physical health issue.
A strength of the Recovery College approach is the focus on rebuilding lives rather than reducing symptoms alone and the development of a partnership between equals, rather than “experts” and “patients”. The peer support offered by peer trainers and fellow students enabled people to feel less alone, to learn from others who have faced similar challenges and to use their experience to help others.
This move towards addressing the needs of the “whole person” is essential in building a community that accepts diversity and makes no distinction between supporting people with their mental health issues in the same way that we do people with a physical health issue.
This is not easy in a world often obsessed with perfection.
In Australia, there is no shortage of programs and services to support people with mental health issues.
What is missing is cohesion – the system breaks down if gaps are allowed to develop between services. Interlinking between services, service providers and the community is essential in ensuring the best outcome for people with mental health issues.
The introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme offers a real opportunity to provide this cohesion. By moving away from a treatment-focused model, the NDIS offers each individual the chance to take control of their own care, to access the services they need, when they need them and to receive the support they need from providers.
All the people we work with are different so it is important to take a collaborative approach that supports the individual and helps each person to fulfil his or her own potential.
In Australia, organisations such as Beyond Blue have been effective in raising awareness of mental health issues as something that can affect anyone at any time. No one is immune and the recovery process is a different journey for each individual.
Interlinking between services, service providers and the community is essential in ensuring the best outcome for people with mental health issues.
If we are to live in a society that truly supports an individual’s health and wellbeing we need to understand and support the recovery journey of people with physical and mental health needs. Acceptance and understanding can be achieved through greater emphasis and engagement in community education and in supporting people to make their contribution with whatever health-related issues they are managing.
Through the significant achievements in her life and her passion and energy for supporting people with mental health challenges, Dr Perkins has demonstrated that mental health is something that can be understood and well managed, enabling the opportunity for a fulfilling and contributing life.
Danny Sutton is the chief executive of Richmond Fellowship Tasmania, a non-government organisation that works closely with the industry peak body, the Mental Health Council of Tasmania
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/opinion/talking-point-the-new-mindset-on-mental-health/story-fnj4f64i-1227425924148